Electrical switch-board



Patented Apr. 24, 1888.

G. W. MGLEAN.

BLEGTRIGAL SWITCH BOARD.

1.7V VEJV' TOR CZm- W. JMc uZ ean,

Attorney lillilulliililiillillul (No Model.)

NY PETERS. rmmLmc -a mr. wmm m. n (L W TJV'ESSES UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER \V. MOLEAN, OF NEWV BEItNE, NOR-TH CAROLINA.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,263, dated April24;, 1883.

Application filed October 18, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Onnrsrornnn W. Mo- LEAN, a citizen of the UnitedState, residing at New Berne, in the county of Graven and State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrical Switch-Boards; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to switch-boards for electric telegraphs; and theobject is to prevent the destruction of what is termed the base-board,which forms part of the switchboard, and to which the terminal strips orbars of the electric line-wires are secured. As is well known to thoseskilled in the art, the destruction of the base-boards of theswitchboards at the terminal ends of the electric wires causes greatinconvenience and annoyance by the delay in repairing, as also apecuniary loss, as well as danger to the operators at electric-telegraphstations, occasioned by burning or charring of the base-board. Saidburning or charring is caused by extraordinary currents of electricitybeing expended at the terminal strips, caused by lightning duringthunder-storms, or by the currents from the battery being too great tobe taken up and delivered by the wires.

My invention consists in making the baseboard, which forms part of theswitch-board, and to which the terminal strips or bars of the electricline-wires are secured, of glass or other vitreous material, such asporcelain, earthenware, &c. This baseboard, thus made of glass or othervitreous material, may be made in sections and secured in a suitableframe, which may be made of wood, rubber, or similar material, or glass.When made of glass the frame is to be made in sections and mitered orotherwise secured together at the corners. If desired, however, theframe and sections may be made in one piece, with narrow slits oropenings at certain intervals, so as to form the sections. Thesebase-boards have been made of wood, rubber, or similar material. Theholes for the studs are to be drilled or cast in, as desired, although Iprefer to have them drilled in, as a better fit can be made for thestuds, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings and theletters of referencemarked thereon.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch-boardembracing my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of one of the sections of theswitch-board base.

In the drawings, A represents the baseboard of a switch-board, which ismade of a series of sections, B, fitted into a frame made of wood,rubber, or other material, or of glass. If desired, however, the frameas well as the sections may be made of glass in one piece. The frame mayalso be made in sections or separate pieces and mitered or otherwisesuitably fitted and secured together. The sections are made of glassaccording to my process, by which it is made very malleable, so that theholes for the reception of the studs can be readily drilled 0r reamedout. The terminal strips or bars 0, which are made of brass orcomposition in the ordinary manner and shape, are secured to the base Aby means of screws 1), or in other suitable manner. Between these strips(3 the ordinary studs, I), made of brass or composition, are inserted insuitable holes drilled or cast into the sections B, and when cast inthey may be reamed out, so that the studs D will fit snugly into theirplaces. Into the sides of the adjoining terminal strips and studssuitable holes, (I, are drilled, and extend partly into the strips 0 andpartly into the studs I), as is usually the case with those now in use.Into the holes (1 the usual pins or pegs are inserted by which themetallic connections or circuits are completed between the wires and thebattery. The sprin g-jaclss used in some forms of switches, are

' usually connected with the switch-boards, may

be secured thereto; or they can be attached to a separate piece, andthen secured to the base board.

I do not confine myself to any particular form, style, or size ofswitch-board, as it will be understood that it can be made according tothe requirements of the telegraph-office or place where it is intendedto use the same. The switch-boards can of course be made and used fortelephonic and other'electric purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby patent, is

1. Aswitch-board for electric telegraphs,hav-

ing its base-board made of glass or other vit- In testimony whereof Ihereby aflix my sigregns material, silgbstantiail i as specified. naturein presence of two witnesses. In a switchoard for e ectric tele m hs thebase-board made of glass or other v itr ous (JHBISTOPHER MCLEAN' 5material in sections, secured in a frame of Witnesses:

glass, wood, or other material, substantially as CHAS. A. FRENCH, setforth. A. H. BETZ.

